Nerve Conduction Studies
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October 17, 2006 at 6:14 pm
Hi all
Tomorow I see a neurologist. I had nerve conduction studies done a couple of weeks ago. I think I am going to be told, again, that I had repeated bouts of radial palsy (basically, a duff hand) because I drink too much and throw my arm across the back of a chair and compress the nerve. Also that I fall asleep on my right side and compress the nerve by not moving when I feel uncomfortable beause I am too deep asleep following drinking.
I can understand where this is coming from. BUT I don’t throw my arm across the back of a chair (I have tried this on the chair I use and I would need to be almost a contortionist), it hurts on the outside, not the inside, of my arm. The doc noticed this when he gripped my arm and I yelped and he seemed rather surprised.
I actually slept with a friend to see what happened. I started out on my left side and then turned on to my back (and snored – rather embarassing!). But I get the impression that the doc has a fixation on this, possibly because it is the easy answer and seems obvious. Even though I know I don’t do it – the chair back is too high, I awake with my hands in front of me on the desk, it once happened to my left arm (and I watched it happen) and I know my friend kept an eye on me because I saw them looking at me twice during the night – when I was asleep on my back (and snoring apparently).
I know that I am somewhat fixated on GBS. But what I have been told so far simply does not add up.
Any suggestions as to what I ask or tell the Neuro would be appreciated!
If it’s not to do with GBS then it’s not. But I don’t want it missed from the equation if only because it might help in the future for others. Unfortunately I think that the Doc hears “I drink” and switches off. I am aware that drinking can cause neurological problems yet, all the twitching etc started long before I hit any bottle. I’ve told the truth as regards drinking etc but in doing so I suspect I have blinded those who hear me.
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October 17, 2006 at 6:40 pm
T.A.
First, let me commend you for telling your doctors the truth about your drinking. Although it may sometimes “color” their opinions of your medical problems, it is essential for them to know about it, in order to treat your problems correctly, and to avoid inadvertently causing other problems.
I don’t know if you have GBS or not, but since you have made the effort to check out your doctor’s assumptions about the source of your problems and found that he is wrong, if he won’t accept that and persue other answers, you may need to change doctors.
May I suggest that instead of continuing with your present doctor, that you may want to switch to someone who either specializes in, or often treats substance abuse patients. The substance abuse doctor will be more familiar with what problems are likely to be caused by drinking (and how they manifest), and be able to seperate those out from other symptoms.
If he or she needs for you to see other specialists, he/she will have some recommendations for other docs in various specialties who are also familiar with substance abuse problems. They will tend to be less judgemental and perhaps help you to get a real diagnosis.
You obviously have something real going on and you need to get an answer.
Best wishes,
Suzanne
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October 17, 2006 at 7:31 pm
T.A.
My doctor told me they need to triangulate the diagnosis. Meaning, things need to add up. First, nerve conduction study, next high protien in spinal tap, next blood work and ruling out other causes.
Good Luck! I pray you dont have GBS,CIDP, or worse.
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October 17, 2006 at 10:01 pm
ta,
i agree w suzanne, time for a new doc.
There are two neurology teams in the hospital, and another one at the Mercy hospital but I don’t know anything about those other two neurologists and their teams. There is a bad shortage of neurologists in Ireland due to limited resources in the health service. Cork is the second largest city which is why we are lucky enough to have some. The big problem is making sure people in rural areas get referred to larger hospitals with appropriate facilities. Anyway…
Dr Roddy Galvin
Cork University Hospital
Wilton
Cork
IrelandSecretary’s telephone number 021 4922461
Private rooms:
Consultants Private Clinic
Shanakiel
Cork
phon 021 4541197take care. be well.
gene gbs 8-99
in numbers there is strength -
October 18, 2006 at 10:02 am
Hey TA, I proud of you for going through the test for one thing-i know you were reluctant to have that done. for another thing, you need to make sure you are heard-i know you must be tired of repeating yourself to the drs but your not being heard correctly. i go through that everytime i have a paralysis event-they never get the facts straight-i check the paperwork after i am released. when you go to another dr–at least i hope you will find another dr- just tell them the facts as you feel them and let them ask you the questions. i keep a journal at home both on the computer and on paper, and i also have one in my pda that i take with me when i go to the drs office or hospital. i write down only the facts, the less writing the better, just enough to get my feelings across. if they ask me about my habits i tell them with short answers, and i make sure they stop and talk to me and i ask them the questions before i leave the appt or the hospital , whereever i happen to be. i’m not saying i get a good answer or that the drs always have an answer for me-hardly ever, but i do make them accountable. i think drs are more apt to treat a patient with respect if that patient asks questions and shows them they really want answers to their problems. the more proactive you are towards your health the more the drs will listen to you and try to find answers for you. the first things out of your mouth should be your symptoms, pain, numbness, tingling, trouble walking or whatever your symptoms are, then let the dr take it from there, if the dr doesn’t pick up the ball and run with it start asking why am i having this or that when i sit, stand or walk, that might get you farther then telling the dr you drink such and such. drinking is only a tool you use to deal with the symptoms-it didn’t cause the symptoms to begin with. if the symptoms weren’t there in the first place the drinking wouldn’t have been there to cover it up. just my opinion.
ta i hope you can find a new dr who will treat your symptoms and not belittle you for covering up, or dealing with them your own way. keep in touch with us girl, we’ve missed you around here. how has your daughter been? is her schooling going well? take care.:) -
October 18, 2006 at 11:35 am
One thought / offer here: My wife is fellowship trained and teaches administration of EMG’s and EMG interpretation. If you would like, I can certainly ask her to look over your results for an interpretation / second assessment. She is traveling in Chicago this week at an AMA conference, but will be around next week.
Regards,
doug -
October 19, 2006 at 6:46 pm
Hi
Very many thanks to each of you.
Little bit of a mix-up! I had GBS in 1993. Radial palsy started in Autumn (Fall) 2004 when my right hand went completely numb and it took 6 weeks to clear, with treatment. My right hand has done that since another 4 times I think and my left hand also did it once – all were milder than the first time. The neurologist I went to see is the same chap who treated me for the GBS. I think he’s good and he’s now a Professor. Neurologists in Ireland are very thin on the ground. Getting an appointment apparently averages 18 months.
This time, I saw one of the young doctors from his team. She said she believed me – in that the palsy was happening (I should hope so as it was our local hospital – a consultant and the physiotherapist – and my GP that wanted me to see the neurologist).
She (the doc in Dublin) also said that the nerve conductions studies did not show anything significant. Whilst I think that is good news, I am pondering about the “nothing significant” as in – does that mean nothing or a little something? I explained to her that I slept with a friend (she kept a straight face when I said I literally slept!) and what the outcome was – not sleeping on my arms etc. I also told her about being unable to throw my arm across the back of my chair and about the doc discovering that the pain when my arm was pressed occurred n the outside, not the inside.
I mentioned that the doc who did the nerve studies asked me to call him immediately so as to arrange to see him, if the palsy happened again. I had to laugh, because if it were to hit my left hand – I couldn’t drive!
She was so friendly, that I managed to tell her about the fatigue and the weakness that sometimes occurs, and has done since GBS.
Any road, the young doctor sent me off for blood tests – mainly to see if I had a genetic condition that can cause this palsy apparently – and it was the doc I saw before the Professor who asked that it be done if the nerve tests didn’t show anything. I had a quick look at the forms (that I didn’t understand) and she asked for a full blood count, some other tests, a check on Vitamin B12. The phlebotomist (what a word) was one of the best I have met, much to my relief.
But the funniest part was that, the nerve tests were originally scheduled for a Wednesday – on the Monday previous, the palsy happened again, after so long! It must be 6 months to a year since it happened last.
At least I am learning my way around Dublin. Didn’t go to the wrong hospital this time, didn’t get totally lost, got there is 2 1/2 hours and home in 2 hours. It’s a lovely city actually.
Angel, when she asked me how long I’d been drinking I said “Let me see – when did my husband leave?” She just said “Ah!” She got the picture. Theyu never belittled me, it was just that I thought the Professor grabbed the alcohol thing – but then, he still sent me for the nerve tests.
Flipping heck Gene! How you got the telephone numbers is beyond me! You’re a star.
Changing neurologists – I doubt I could do that. And to be honest, I don’t want to. Whilst I don’t want it to be alcohol related (of course I don’t) in the long run, the truth is best. I do reckon that I am an alcohol abuser, hopefully not an alcoholic because I can go without drinking – so long as I’m not at home in my own place! I was at my Mum’s for the weekend and drank water and went to bed at a decent hour and slept like a log as usual! Also there’s plenty of booze in the house and it’s been here for ages but I drink red wine and tonic water.
At least they are not looking for MS.
God bless
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October 19, 2006 at 11:26 pm
T.A.,
The nerve conduction studies that I had done early on with my GBS were also inconclusive. However, they were done by a neurologist who wasn’t very good at listening.
With me, GBS was not symetrical. It was very site specific. The first neurologist who tested me only tested areas on my arms and legs that were not exhibiting symptoms. Although I told him this, he ignored me. The test results showed “no significant abnormality”.
I was finally tested by a neurologist who was good at doing the test, and who also listened to me about which areas where weak and/or numb, and the test results were totally different. It was obvious that there was a significant problem at that point.
Suzanne
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October 20, 2006 at 11:20 pm
Hi Suzanne
and thanks.
I was starting to think that perhaps I just had a fixation to be honest. But I know there are some weird things going on. I will remember what you said when I next see my neuro.
Thank you!
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October 21, 2006 at 10:38 am
[QUOTE=gene]ta,
i agree w suzanne, time for a new doc.
There are two neurology teams in the hospital, and another one at the Mercy hospital but I don’t know anything about those other two neurologists and their teams. There is a bad shortage of neurologists in Ireland due to limited resources in the health service. Cork is the second largest city which is why we are lucky enough to have some. The big problem is making sure people in rural areas get referred to larger hospitals with appropriate facilities. Anyway…
Dr Roddy Galvin
Cork University Hospital
Wilton
Cork
IrelandSecretary’s telephone number 021 4922461
Private rooms:
Consultants Private Clinic
Shanakiel
Cork
phon 021 4541197take care. be well.
gene gbs 8-99
in numbers there is strength[/QUOTE]
I am a new member looking for a neurologist in Orange county.I see you are from southern california.
Thank you -
October 21, 2006 at 1:59 pm
hi genesa & welcome,
CA UCLA: Dr. Michael Graves is highly regarded and is a member of the advisory board of the GBSFI. I found him to be caring and knowledgable.
Los Angles area doc with gbs experience is Dr Emilio Cruz. He was really good… his # (818) 842-8177
physical threpist Joyce Campbell, Ph.D., P.T. she is a proferssor in the Dept. of physical therapy Cal. State University, Long Beach . She runs 2 floors of GBS patients.
Santa Cruz – Dr. Michael Gansauer Santa Cruz Medical Clinic 831-476-8900
Huntington Beach – Dr. George Perrine 19066 Magnolia Street, Huntington Beach, California (CA)
take care. be well.
gene gbs 8-99
in numbers there is strength
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